Special Coding Tags: HTML, PHP, Etc.

Besides the [code] tag (seen & explained in the previous lesson), there are other more specialized tags for codes but they are not used the same way by the different forums softwares or not used at all in some.

The [html] tag for example allows you to insert boxes containing HTML & to perform HTML syntax highlighting, but it only works in vBulletin & IP.Board powered forums.

In a SMF board it won't have any effect, & in a phpBB board it leads to an error in coding (non supported tag). If you're not sure what software your community uses read: What Kind of Forum are You Using?

Example:

[html]
<img src="image.gif" alt="image" />

<a href="testing.html" target="_blank">Testing</a>
[/html]

The colors you see in the code inside the box, were inserted automatically just by wrapping the code with [html] tag. They highlight HTML syntax.


HTML Code:

<img src="image.gif" alt="image" />

<a href="testing.html" target="_blank">Testing</a>

Another specialized coding tag: [php] tag. In a vBulletin based forum it will work same way [html] does but highliting PHP syntax. In a SMF forum it highlights syntax without creating a box or converting fonts, while in IP.Board and phpBB the tag is not supported & leads to an error if used.

Example:

[php]
$myvar = 'Hello World!';
for ($i = 0; $i < 10; $i++)
{
echo $myvar . "\n";
}
[/php]

Will look in a vBulletin Forum:

PHP Code:

$myvar = 'Hello World!';
for ($i = 0; $i < 10; $i++)
{
echo $myvar . "\n";
}

And in a SM (Simple Machines) Forum:

$myvar = 'Hello World!';
for ($i = 0; $i < 10; $i++)
{
echo $myvar . "\n";
}